Locomotives’ minimum speed

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An ammeter in a GP40-2 with the short-time rating plate below. Note the duplicate time chart listed on the gauge as well. Chris Guss Q Why is it that a D.C. traction locomotive can stay below its continuous full-power minimum speed limit for only 30 minutes while an A.C. traction unit can grind away in […]

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Diesel locomotive pooling

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Two Canadian Pacific trains, with motive power from CP, CSX Transportation, and Norfolk Southern, meet near Oconomowoc, Wis., in November 2014. Brian Schmidt Q It is common to see a train from one railroad which is powered, partially or fully, by locomotives from another railroad. Why does this happen so frequently and how is the […]

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Ask MRVP: Episode 26

David Popp wearing a Hawaiian shirt and standing next to a model railroad.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Thanks to an abundance of inquiries last month, host David Popp had plenty to address in this extended-length June 2017 episode of Ask MRVP! David, along with help from Cody Grivno, Kent Johnson, and Ben Lake, tackles hobby questions regarding layout operation, turnouts, […]

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Ask MRVP: Episode 26

David Popp wearing a Hawaiian shirt and standing next to a model railroad.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Thanks to an abundance of inquiries last month, host David Popp had plenty to address in this extended-length June 2017 episode of Ask MRVP! David, along with help from Cody Grivno, Kent Johnson, and Ben Lake, tackles hobby questions regarding layout operation, turnouts, […]

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Cabooses, not cabeese

A line of colorful cabooses sits behind a gravel loading platform

Volunteers at the Whitewater Valley Railroad in Connersville, Ind., prepare a string of cabooses (not cabeese) for an excursion in December 2013. Steve Sweeney Q If the plural of “goose” is “geese,” then is the plural of “caboose,” “cabeese?” What is the proper plural form of “caboose?” – William James, Manchester, N.H. A Our collected […]

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Ask MRVP: Episode 25

David Popp wearing a Hawaiian shirt and standing next to a model railroad layout.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Warmer temps, Hawaiian shirts, and… (wait for it) turnout questions are back! In this May 2017 episode of Ask MRVP, host David Popp addresses a question regarding Pelle Søeborg’s scenery, installing backdrops, battery-powered trains, and much more! If you’re curious about these topics, […]

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Ask MRVP: Episode 25

David Popp wearing a Hawaiian shirt and standing next to a model railroad layout.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Warmer temps, Hawaiian shirts, and… (wait for it) turnout questions are back! In this May 2017 episode of Ask MRVP, host David Popp addresses a question regarding Pelle Søeborg’s scenery, installing backdrops, battery-powered trains, and much more! If you’re curious about these topics, […]

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Montana Rail Link creation

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On Sept. 26, 2013, Montana Rail Link’s eastbound Gas Local passes a westbound BNSF coal train in Plains, Mont., bound for Roberts Bank, British Columbia. Tom Danneman Q What was the reason BNSF sold off trackage to Montana Rail Link? As an observer, it appears most trains on the railroad are of BNSF origin. – […]

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Big Boy braking power

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Ten hoppers coupled to the Big Boy consist in January 2014 were used for additional braking power. Steve Sweeney Q Why was there a string of hopper cars in the consist moving Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 from Pomona to West Colton, Calif., in January 2014? – David Tritenbach, Kerrville, Texas A Although Union […]

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An ancient scale test car

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Scale test cars are used to calibrate in-track scales that weigh freight cars. The car shown above was built in 1891 and served until the 1980s. Jim Battle Q The car in this picture was in the New York, Susquehanna & Western’s Little Ferry, N.J., yard in September 1978. Do you know if it is […]

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Ask MRVP: Episode 24

David Popp standing at a table in the Model Railroader workshop introducing a video.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Looks like show host David Popp (and the crew too) has a case of spring fever! What a perfect reason for this episode of Ask MRVP to venture into “wild” Wisconsin! This month, David tackles Q&As from the MR workshop, the aisles of […]

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Ask MRVP: Episode 24

David Popp standing at a table in the Model Railroader workshop introducing a video.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Looks like show host David Popp (and the crew too) has a case of spring fever! What a perfect reason for this episode of Ask MRVP to venture into “wild” Wisconsin! This month, David tackles Q&As from the MR workshop, the aisles of […]

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